Harvester



p 3, 1932. w. F. HELMKAMP 1,877,313

HARVESTER Filed June 3, 1929 INYEZNTDH WI TNEEE WRLTEHFI'ICLMKHMF 4 BY @MMM,

' BITYE.

Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE,

WALTER E. EELMKAMP, or EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoE To DEERE & CO PANY,

F MOLINEQILLINOIS, A CORPQRATIQN OF ILLINOIS HARVESTER Application filed June 3, 1929. Serial No. 368,017.

This invention relates to improvements in harvesters. 1 a

The sickle of a modern harvesting machine is supported on a frame work on which it is 5 driven back andfo'rth, or oscillated, by the mechanism of the harvester. The frame work also carries a plurality of fingers or sickle guards which project forward from the framework and guide the standing gram into proper relation with the sickle-topermit the sickle to sever it.

These fingers are usually Constructed of cast iron and are held on the sickle framework by bolting or riveting. The upper face of the finger is flat, and the cutting knives of the sickle are disposed immediately above this face in rubbing'contact with it. Hence the edges of the upper face of the finger cooperate with the cutting blades of'the sickle to sever the grain by a shearing action, it is the customary practice to provide a ledger plate on this face, that plate usually being hardened to increase its life and effectiveness as a cutting shear. I 1,

These ledger plates'must be made removiable sothat the cutting edges of them can be trued when necessary. To facilitate ready removal of these plates a'recess is cast in the forward tip of the finger and a coil spring set in this recess. The front-edge of'the ledger plate is designed to fit in this recess against the coil spring, and the back edge is beveled to fit in a beveled recess cast in the finger adjacent to the frame section. ofit'.

To insert the ledger plates into thefingers they are positioned with the forward section against the coil spring, are pushed forward until the rear end of the plate is moved ahead of the recess in which it is to fit, and then moved backward into that recess, the tension of the spring serving to hold the plate in place. A In the harvesters constructed heretofore, the rear edges of the ledger plates have been 5 straight'lines, usually the plate being some what diamond shaped and designed tobear against a V-shaped recess in the back portion of'theguard finger. p An arrangement of this kind is satisfactory if the tension in the coil springis directed along the central axis of the ledger plate, in

two straight sides of the V socket in which it fits. I 1 v However, in the manufacture of these fingers itfrequently happens that the core used to east the spring socket in the finger becomes cutting member, withthe consequent frequent losing of the ledger plates and the bother of frequentlyreplacing them. a In cases of extreme misalignment ofthe spring socket relative to the central axis of the finger, it mayhappen that the .,ledge r plate bears against the V socket only atthe extreme tip point of the bearing surface, in

whichjcase the ledger plate is very insecurely held on the fingerand itis most certain that it will be hammered loose by the grain beating against its cutting surface. j

Inmy present invention I have provided a new ledger plate'and' redesigned fin'ger guard in which the rearward edge of the ledger plate. is formed as the arcof'a circle. 1

The socket; into which this plate-fits isalso formed as an arc of a circle of the sameradius and the center points of the two circles-coincidewhen the ledger plate isin its"c orrect position I The. result of this arrangementv l which case the plate bears firmly against the slightly displaced so that the socket is not "center line of the plate.

"finger by them.

By this arrangement, any misalignment of the coil spring that holds the ledger plate in the finger will not result in the ledger plate bearing against its rear socket only at a point, but rather the bearing will be distributed over the entire surface of the arcuate end of the plate and the socket into which it fits. I have provided a bevel on the rear end of the ledger plate and a corresponding undercutting or bevel on the socket that isto receive it, so that the plate is firmly held on the guard finger and cannot be dislodged therefrom by the beating of the grain. against the cutting edge of the ledger plate.

The firm lodging ofthe ledger .pl'at'e'on the guard finger may also be enhanced by formiing the rear end of the ledger plate in a convex arc, and forming a concave or semi-circular indentation in the end of the plate, this indentation having its center located on the The socket in the finger guard is made concave to register with the convex contour. of the rear end of the ledger," plate and is provided with a convex boss centrally located and designed to fit into the concave indentation in the ledger.

late. Both. the socket and the boss are uner'cut'to receive the beveledges of the ledger plate which is securely held on the guard To acquaint those skilled in the art with the teachings-of my invention I have shown a preferred embodiment of it in the accompanying drawing in which; V

Figure 1 is an elevation view of the guard finger, P g

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken "along the line 22 of Figure 1, I

Figure 3 is a section of the figuretaken 'along the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, Figure l'is'a plan view of a modified form of finger; and j Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of Figure l taken along the'line 55 looking'in the direction'of the arrows;

As will be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the- I guard finger is generally a spear shaped mem- "her that is usually formed of cast iron. the rear end of the finger and-on its upper face, a vfi'at portion 20 and "shoulder '21 are provided to facilitate attaching the finger. "to the sickle frame work, where it is held by "a boltor rivet extending through the hole 23-.

A recess 22 inthe shoulder 21 cooperates with a projection on the frame work to lock the finger thereon.

The leading end of 'thefinger is' mpered in all four directions to facilitate it nosing its way into the grain. The bottom face 7 is bears against the shoulder of the cutter 'ba'r to which the guard fingers are bolted and which serves as a guide for the sickle. The cutting knives of the sickle project over the ledger plate 6 and beneath the upper guard 25, resting immediately adjacent the, plate 6.

Since the cutting blades of the'sickle push the grain over against the edge of the ledger plate 6, where it is cut by a shearing action between the cutting blade and the ledger plate edge, it is customary to make the ledger plates removable and to harden them. fa'cilit-at'e'this operation, asocket 12 is cast in the forward section of the finger, that socket being cylindrically shaped and centrally located in "the j'fin'ger. A coil spring 11 is fitted into the socket to facilitate hold .in-gfthe ledger plate in the finger, as will presently appear.

The guard fingeris also provided with the curved surfaces 8, which are undercut slightly, thereby forming a socket. The center of the circle of which these curved surfaces are a part lies 'on the central axis of the finger.

The ledger plate 6 is formed with a project'ion 13, whose sides13 snugly fit into the socket 12in the forward part of the finger.

and engages the coil' spring 11.

'The'V point of this projection 13 fits into The rear end'of'the ledger plate 6 is formed as an arc of acircle, and is beveled with the wider edge of the bevel disposed at the bottom of theplate.

- To insert the ledger plate 6 in the finger the projection 13' is brought into registration with the socket 12 and the V point of that projection intd-engagement with the spring 11. The rear end of the ledger plate is disposed over the shoulder 26 and to bring the curved surface 9 of the ledger plate into engagement with the socket 8 of the finger I edge of the socket'8 to hold "the plate down on the finger.

Sincethe bearing surface of the ledger plate 6 against the socket 8 is arcuate the plate will bear over theentire surface of the socket even though the center line of the s ring 11 be slightly offset from the center 'line of the finger. Thisinsures that the ledger platejwil'l be securely held on the finger at all times even though the finger be imperfect by reason of having the socket 1 2 eccentricallydis'posed with respect to the center 'lin'e of the finger instead of concentrically as it should be.

To facilitate 'removing the ledger plate 6 from the guard finger, I have provided a slotted opening 14 in the rear end of the plate.

It is customary to hollow out the guard finger beneath the ledger plate, as shown at 2'7, and the rear end 15 of this depression forms a led ge'against which a. lever project-ed through the opening 14 can rest. The ledge 15 forms a fulcrum to assist the lever in moving the ledger plate 6 forward to bring the beveled edges 9 of the plate out of engagement with the socket edges 8. After the plate has been thus moved back, it can be lifted up and removed in the obvious manner.

*InFigures 4 and 5, I have shown a modified form of the invention in which I have provided a centrally located boss 9, against which the rear end of the ledger plate fits. This boss is preferablysemicircular, with its center located at 10, which is on the center line of the guard finger. The edge 9 of the boss 9 -is undercut and theedge 8 of the ledger plate 6, which cooperates with the boss,

Is beveled to fit in this undercut.

In this modification, the ledger plate 6 is held in the guard fingerby the curved edge 8,

which fits into a beveled socket to hold the plate firmly down on the guard. The plate is inserted in the guard in the above explained manner and to facilitate moving it, I have provided the hole 14, through which a nail or other similar rod may be brought to bear against the edge 15 of the depression 27 which acts as a fulcrum to spring the ledger plaltze (ifo'rward out of engagement with the soc let.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the curved rear edge of the ledger plate and its cooperating curved sockets permit solid seating of the plate in the socket'even though the tension put on the plate by the spring 11 be along a line which does not coincide exactly with the center line of the guard finger and plate. The danger of the ledger plate being knocked out of its socket by the grain pushed against itby the sickle bar is removed, and although the ledger plate is firmly locked against such accidental displacement it is readily removable by the use of simple tools whenit is necessary to repair or replace it.

The use of a round end ledger plate 6 permits the use of many guard finger castings which would have to be discarded because of a misalignment of the socket 12 if thestraight edged guard plate, used'heretofore, were employed. The c'orewhich forms the socket 12 is apt to be slightly displaced in the casting process so that the socket is not perfectly al gned as it should'be. This misalignment is not great and I have found that the use of the circular socket andcircular end of the ledger plate permits properseating of the plate in these fingers even when the socket 12 is misaligned. l V

t will be noted thatwhen the ledger plate is in place on the guard finger, its upper face fits flush with the upper face of the shoulder 26, and also flush with the upper face of boss 'der means.

casting.

'9. In other words, the face of the finger over which the blades of the sickle run is smooth modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I consider new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims;

What is claimed is: V

1. In a guard finger for harvesters, arcuate shoulder means, a ledger plate having a round end conforming to the arc of said shoulder means, a socket disposed in said finger opposite said shoulder means, a tongue on said plate registering with saidsocket, and means in said socket for holding the round end of said plate firmly against said arcuate shoul- 2. A guard finger for harvesters, comprising a casting, a fiat face on said casting, arouate shoulder means rising from said face, said shoulder means having a sloping edge the top of which overhang-s said plane to form a cavity, a socket formed in said casting, a ledger plate having a beveled, rounded end registering with said shoulder means and cavity, a tongue on, said plate registering with said socket, and means in said socket for holding the rounded end of said platesecurely against said shoulder means and in said cavity to thereby hold the plate onsaid 3. A guard finger for harvesters, comprising a casting, a'fiat face on said casting, arcuate shoulder means rising from said-face, a ledger plate having a rounded end registering with said shoulder means, a socket formed in said casting, a tongue on said plate registering with said socket, and a coil spring in said socket for holding the round end ofsaid'plate securely against said shoulder means to there- I said finger, a cylindrical socket in said finger disposed with its axis substantially on'the center line of said finger, a ledger plate shaped to conform to'the contour of said finger, a beveled arcuate end on said plate registering with said shoulder means, a

tongueonwsai'd plate registeringwith said said plate on saidfinger.

socket, and'means in said socket for holding 5. In a guard finger for harvesters, an 'arcuate shoulder. having a beveled edge, the center ofsaidshoulderbeing disposedon the center line of said finger, a cylindrical socket insaid finger disposed with its axis substantiallyzon the center-line of said finger, a ledger plate shaped to conform to the contour of said finger, a beveled arcuate end on said plate registering withsaid shoulder a tongue on said plate registering with said socket, and means in said socket bearing against said'plate along its center line to I hold its arcuate end against saidarcuate ing against said tongue to hold said plate in place on said finger, and a recess'in said flat face, the. edge of which serves as a fulcrum for a lever projected through the opening in saidplate toremove it from said finger;

-7. In a sickle bar finger for harvesters, an arcuate shoulder on said finger, a semicircular undercut boss projecting centrally from said finger, a ledger plate having an arcuate end with a semicircular slot disposed in the center of the end, a socket disposed in said finger opposite said shoulder, a tongue on said plate registering therewith, and meansin said socket for positively maintaining the plate in position on said finger with its slot properly seated relative to the undercut boss.

- 8. In a guard finger for harvesters, comprising a casting having a fiat shoulder surface for-attaching the finger to a sickle frame,

a tapered finger-like portion disposed with its center line at right angles to said shouldered surface, a 'flat face disposed onsaid finger, a recess lnsa d face, an undercut shoulder adacentto said face, said shoulderbelng formed as the arc of a circle whose center lies on the center line of said finger, a socket opposing said shoulder and concentric with said center line, a ledgerplate for said finger, said plate having a beveled rounded end registering with said undercut shoulder, a slot in that end and atongue on the other end registering with said socket, and a coil spring disposed in said socket and bearing against said tongue to hold the ledger plateon said finger by hold- :ing the rounded end thereof firmly against said undercut shoulder, the'edge of said recess-forming a fulcrum for a pointed rod projected through-the slotin said plate to moveit against the tension of said spring to remove it fromsaid finger.

9. The combination with harvesters, said guard'fingerhaving an arouate shoulder, of a ledger plate having one a guard finger for end arcuate inshape, and-means for releasablyholding said ledger plate on said guard means for'yieldingly holding said ledger plate on said'finger with'its shaped end in engagement with said recess.

11. The combination with a guard finger for harvesters, said guard finger having an arcuate recess, of a ledger plate having one end shaped to register with said recess and means carried by'said finger for yieldingly holding-said ledger plate onsaid finger with its shapedend in engagement with said recess. v V

12. The combination with av guard finger for-harvesters, said guard finger having an undercut arcuate recess, of a ledger plate having one end shaped to seat in said recess, and means'foryieldingly holding said ledger plate on said finger with the shaped'end thereof seated in said recess.

; 13. A guard finger for-harvesters comprising a casting with a flat face thereon, oppo sitely ifprojecting shoulders having concave undercut surf-aces, said casting having a sockct disposed substantially centrallytherein, a

ledger plate having a convex tapered'end registering under-said undercut shoulders, and

means in said socket for maintaining said ledger plate on'the. casting with its convex surface in full engagement with said concave undercut surface.

14. A guard finger for aharvester comprising a casting with a shoulder formed thereon, said casting having a socket disposed in the casting substantially centrally thereof, a ledger plate carried by said casting, saidshoulder having a groovefor the reception of said ledger plate and means in said socket for maintaining the ledger plate against said shoulder, the ledger plate being capable of conforming with said shoulder and socket means to be held onthe casting. 1

15. A self-"adjusting ledger plate in combination with a harvesterguard finger, said guard fingerhaving a fiat supporting surface azu and an 'arcuate abutting surface associated with-said supportingsurface, said arcuate abutting surface lying ln-the arc of a circle the iLXlSOf'WhlOh lS located in the'longitudisaid ledger plate having an arcuate end con-. forming'to and engaging with said arcuate abutting surface whereby said ledger plate is adapted toturn n the supporting surface so that its arcuate end will be in full engagement with the arcuate abutting surface on said guard finger.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of May, 1929.

WALTER F. HELMKAMP. 

